i started a second sock to my first pair last night. seems i have the biggest problem getting started. my cast on was better this time, i joined by swapping the first and last, but after that, things get loose and awkward. i’m not great at ribbing, anyway. but this just doesn’t work. any suggestions?
Help: socks, ribbing, and getting started
I don’t know if you are using dpns but that might be the problem. They can be kind of intimidating if you keep thinking of them as a bunch of sticks hanging there. Have you tried using two circulars? It feels much more “normal” that way. Keep trying you will get the hang of it very soon.
My suggestion is to start with a thicker yarn and larger needles and just practice. It does take some getting use to but believe me you WILL get the hang of it. The ribbing is still frustrating for me.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkorchid]I suggest making the ribbing flat. :happydance: Then join and knit in the round using either dpns or a circular needle method. Use the tail to seam up the ribbing. That seam will be in the center back of your socks renedering it rarely seen. It’s so much easier, IMHO, to keep good ribbing tension while knitting flat rather than in the round. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=#9932cc]I use this techinque for 99% of the items I knit in the round. Quicker, less frustrating and looks much better than when I try to join on the cast on row.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
Hmmm I think the usual answers to this question might not apply since your first one didn’t have the same problems. Are you SURE you did everything the same, caston and knitted with same number of stitches etc.? Is it possible you are knitting differently: maybe because you’re more relaxed now that you know you can do socks or are more relaxed with DPNs? Do you think you may be holding the wool differently, or have you come back to it after knitting with bigger needles and wool for a while?
Sarah